What are the rights of people with low-level literacy?

Right to education

People who are not at ease with written language have the right to learn to read and write.
They have the right to learn where they wish Where they wish: to go at the place of their choice. to.
They have the right to learn at their own rhythm Rhythm: to have the time we need to do something as an individual..


Right to information

People with low-level literacy have the right to understand what they read.
They have the right to understand the news.
They also have the right to understand what they receive in the mail.
They have the right to understand the papers they are asked to fill out.
Everything which is written or said must be in clear and simple language.


Right to have a job

They also have the right to work without having completed high school.


Right to citizenship Citizenship: it means to be a citizen, a person that can say it's opinion, take part in decisions, as per example to vote, be able to protest, talk about our ideas, participate in associations or groups that defends our rights. Also to be able to understand what is going on with political decisions and being able to tell if we accept or refuse those decisions.

People withe low-level literacy have the right to take part in political life in general. They have the right to understand what happens around them and, of course, to vote.
They have the right to participate in debates Lexique: to discuss and try to gain the rights we believe is fair and important. or community meetings.
These persons have the right to sit on a board of directors or a committee where decisions are made.


Right to decent living conditions

These persons have a right to receive financial assistance in order to learn how to better read and write.
They must be able to pay their rent and have enough money for the rest -- for food, clothes, heating and transportation.


Certain rights are not respected:

  • the right to education is not respected
  • nor is the right to information.
  • The right to have a job is not respected
  • nor the right to citizenship.
  • and the right to decent living conditions is also threatened.

How are these rights not respected?

The right to education is limited

The Social Aid Act forces people to take part in "employability programmes".
These programmes do not take into consideration the needs and interests of people.
Social aid agents prevent certain people from taking the time they need to improve their reading skills.
Schools lack resources to help children with difficulties.
There is no assistance for less privileged families.
School is not free.
In certain places, there is no transport to go to literacy groups.
There are not enough daycares.

The right to information is not recognized Recognized: to make it happen.

Too many things are complicated to read.
Many words are difficult to understand.
In general, mail, blank forms, government information is never easy to read.
To complain, you have to be able to write.
Automatic tellers and new technology do not allow us to exercise our right to information.
It is embarrassing to be accompanied and our privacy is not respected.


The right to a job is limited

Without having completed high school, It's difficult to find a job.
They ask to have completed high school even when it is not necessary.
There are less manual jobs.
When we have a job, we are often exploited. We don't fight so as not to lose our job.


The right to citizenship is not recognized

It is difficult to vote when you don't read much.
It's difficult to understand everything.
We feel excluded from political and social life in general.

We suffer the prejudices of others.
The right to vote is protected by law but in reality, it is not so.
Many people cannot read the ballot.
It is not an easy thing to manage to get on the electoral list.
Information on television and radio is hardly ever about local candidates.


The right to a decent life is not respected

Many people have not income enough to pay for food, the rent and clothing.
Social assistance does not give enough money to survive.
One person making minimum wages in a family is not enough to survive.
In the city public transport is too expensive.
Every penny has to be turned over ten times before being spent.


Content : RGPAQ, Centre Alpha-sourd, Deaf Anglo Literacy Center | Web site : Communautique | Work team